Individuals who are found to be illegally accessing water from the water mains, will be taken to task.

This is the message from Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama as he informed villages of Kumi village in Verata that the main challenge faced by the Water Supply Department has to do with 60 percent of fresh water pumped daily by the Water Authority not reaching the public.

Bainimarama said there are other factors contributing to the water demand-supply gap and these were that pipes carrying fresh water are broken or individuals are outsourcing water without government's knowledge.

He told villages in Tailevu that government is trying to develop rural communities by providing them fresh water supply and basic amenities.

Bainimarama visited villages like Ucunivanua and Kumi in Verata, Tailevu, to see what problems they are facing and also development projects that are underway.